The authors surveyed 1,900 first-year students at the University of Virginia one month after arrival studying drinking and driving practices. Men drank more and they drank more often than women. The data suggest that in defining frequent heavy drinkers, one should consider body weight. The authors define frequent heavy drinking as five or more drinks in a row at least weekly for men, and for women use three to four drinks or more in a row at least weekly. Frequent heavy drinkers and dangerous drivers appeared disproportionately among students planning to join fraternities and sororities. The authors believe correction of alcohol abuse and addiction by college students must focus, at least in part, on social organizations, especially fraternities and sororities. Also, attention must be paid to characterologic features that predispose to alcohol abuse and dependence and dangerous driving practices. (A)
Abstract